My role at ICIMOD

My most important role as Director General is to guide, facilitate and support the overall operation and management of ICIMOD as per the policies and strategies approved by the Board of Governors. As a unique institution dedicated to the service of mountain people by contributing towards their socio-economic and physical security, it is my responsibility to ensure that our multi-disciplinary, multi-national and multi-cultural team do not just have the professional expertise to provide knowledge-based solutions to current and emerging challenges but are also passionate and motivated in carrying out our mission. Personally, as someone from the region and from the mountains, I carry with me a deep sense of loyalty and commitment to our constituencies, the HKH mountains of our eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

The HKH region is a very diverse region – geo-physically, ecologically, socio-culturally, politically and economically; and this requires a high degree of understanding and sensitivity in strategizing, planning and implementation of ICIMOD’s programmes and projects.  Moreover, ICIMOD is supported through a consortium of funding sources that includes annual contributions from our regional member countries, core and programme funding from bilateral and multi-lateral development partners. It is my responsibility to ensure that our plans and programmes consider the multiple dimensions of diversity and that we respond to the needs and priorities of our constituents and have adequate financial resources. As an international center for mountains, ICIMOD is also the face and voice of the mountains in the international arena and a key role of the Director General is to represent the Centre at global fora, including the UNFCCC and UNFCB, besides other networks.

I will actively pursue my vision for ICIMOD, i.e. to further develop it into a globally recognized center of excellence on mountains and mountain peoples. Towards this end, it will be my endeavor to ensure the successful implementation of the “HKH Call to Action” that was recently endorsed by the governments of the eight regional member countries.

Short profile for introduction purposes